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Treating your allergy

If you begin experiencing allergy symptoms for the first time, it's important to see a doctor before taking further action. As well as a diagnosis, a doctor can also offer advice on hay fever. Alternatively you could visit a pharmacist who would be able to offer you advice on suitable treatment options.

Once you have decided that allergy medication should be part of the fight against your allergies, you then have the challenge of deciding which type of allergy medication is the best choice.

Start by finding out what kind of treatment is available, and how each of them works to relieve your symptoms:

Antihistamines

Antihistamines are the most common form of hay fever medication, which work by blocking the action of histamine in your system. They come in pill, liquid and nasal spray form, over the counter or by prescription.

Antihistamines help relieve your most common allergy symptoms, including itchy or watery eyes, sneezing and runny noses among others.

Decongestants

Decongestants help relieve nasal and sinus congestion by shrinking swollen nasal membranes. They can come in the form of pills and liquid nasal sprays. They may be combined with an antihistamine (for example BENADRYL® Allergy Relief Plus Decongestant) to provide more complete symptom relief.

Glucocorticosteroids

Usually only available by prescription, corticosteroids generally work by suppressing the release of chemicals normally produced by your body during an allergic reaction. There are several different types including:

Intranasal corticosteroids – Nasal corticosteroids help to treat and prevent further swelling of the nasal passages. They also relieve congestion and other nasal symptoms.

Oral corticosteroids – These will usually be prescribed for short term periods only, to help relieve very severe symptoms from allergic reactions.

Immunotherapy

Also known as allergy shots. These are a series of injections given by a healthcare professional, usually for a number of years. Each shot contains small amounts of allergens to provoke an antibody response that will reduce your sensitivity and increase your tolerance of the allergen over time.